1891.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 211 



the land, in spite of this old legal fiction. Thus some addi- 

 tional value would be given to our wild lands, and those who 

 wished to enjoy the sport of hunting could pay for it. 

 Agriculture, with a fair acknowledgment of her rights, 

 would never prohibit others from sharing these privileges ; 

 though some farmers might object to the hunters in their 

 groves, preferring to see the gambols of the squirrel and to 

 hear the drum of the partridge and the note of the quail and 

 the song of the lark to anv consideration the hunter might 

 offer, — and why not ? 



You see by this time the breadth of my subject, — too 

 broad for treatment in a single half hour, except by sug- 

 gestion. 



Why do we need legislation for agriculture now, more 

 than formerly? Because there are new laws favoring other 

 industries. Other industries, unless controlled, will crowd 

 on the rights of agriculture. Witness no wage laws, etc. 



Modern means of transportation, methods of trade and 

 manufactures, need control, that the rights of the whole 

 community may be regarded and sustained. The increasing 

 transportation of live stock favors the spread of contagious 

 diseases ; of hay and grain, the spread of weeds. And here 

 let me remark that it is suggested to protect agriculture 

 against these latter by prohibiting the sale of hay or grass 

 seed containing Canada thistle and various other weeds. 

 Our experiment stations are doing a good work to help in 

 that direction. One station (Michigan) has sent out, with 

 its bulletin on the subject, samples of clover seed infected 

 with seeds of the narrow-leaf plantain, a harmless weed, 

 only as it crowds out better growth, and as it seeds abun- 

 dantly, doubly deteriorates any clover seed of which it forms 

 a part. 



But in closing I take up again the illustration of Hercules 

 and the carter. Agriculture must not expect any great 

 revival irom any special legislation. Tariff or free trade it 

 can stand and prosper, taxation can be adjusted, transporta- 

 tion privileges for rural districts secured, frauds in food can 

 be prevented, the health of farm stock' can be guarded, 

 education for the farm can be encouraged, beginning with 

 the district school ; but, after all, these are but feeble 



